Smaller Size! Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Preload Time & Size Revealed for PS4/PS5

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - Preload Timing and Size: What Matters for Your System

So, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is almost upon us, and with the official launch date creeping into view, many players are turning their attention to the practicalities of getting set up. One of the biggest considerations, especially for veterans of the series or those on consoles like the PS4 and PS5, is the sheer size of the game and its various components. Recent updates to the PlayStation database have shed some light on exactly how much space Treyarch's latest entry will consume before you even step onto a multiplayer match or dive into the campaign.

For those of us with finite internal storage, the number crunching is always welcome. Let's break down the specifics. The core game files are spread across several distinct packages, primarily for the different game modes. The multiplayer component itself will take up around 11.6 GB. That's not insignificant, but it sits comfortably within the expectations for a modern FPS. Then there's the dedicated Zombies mode package, which is relatively compact at just 320 MB. This suggests that the main zombie experience, while likely packed with content, might not require a massive initial download just for that specific mode. Perhaps they're delivering a solid base with more potentially added later? The third mode is the co-op campaign, which requires 11.9 GB. Again, comparable to the multiplayer footprint, this indicates a potentially substantial single-player experience.

However, where the real storage crunch comes from, especially when compared to its immediate predecessor, is the Call of Duty HQ platform. This is the foundation upon which the entire Black Ops 7 experience seems to be built – it’s the engine, the launcher, the initial setup. And its footprint is considerable: a hefty 70.479 GB. Now, for players familiar with the Black Ops 6 era, this number might prompt a comparison. It's roughly half the size of the combined campaign and multiplayer bundles from BO6, which were approaching 50 GB. So, while 70 GB is still a substantial download, it's not an unreasonable jump for the added features and enhancements Treyarch has promised. It signifies a richer starting experience but perhaps not an overly bloated one.

This 70.479 GB figure is crucial. It means that if you're planning to install the game digitally, whether via PS4 or PS5, you absolutely need to ensure your console has adequate free space. If your internal hard drive is already cluttered with games, applications, and media, this could be a deal-breaker without sufficient external storage. For those using the standard PS4/PS5 hard drives, the recommendation is clear: start clearing space now. Uninstall older, less-played titles or move them to an external drive. If you opt for the physical disc version, the initial download of the Call of Duty HQ will still happen, but subsequent updates for the campaign and Zombies modes might be handled differently – likely requiring separate downloads post-launch. This can actually be advantageous if you have a slow or unreliable internet connection, giving you time to download the essential updates once you're ready. But the initial preload is still mandatory for the base game.

Now, let's talk about timing. The official preloader for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to begin at a specific window. For North American players, it kicks off at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on November 9th, 2025. Converting that globally, it's roughly 07:00 UTC, 12:00 GMT, 19:00 Central European Time, and 04:00 Beijing Time the following day. For fans in Asia, that translates to a convenient early start on November 10th. This coordinated launch window makes sense for global server load management.

For those who preordered the digital edition, there's an immediate benefit. They'll start downloading the Call of Duty HQ and the initial set of core files directly into their preloader. Think of it as getting a head start on the journey. The initial download will set you up to play the core modes as soon as they become available. The campaign and Zombies modes won't be ready until November 10th and 17th respectively. Smartly, this initial download might even include some minor pre-cursor updates, ensuring you're at a reasonable state-of-readiness when the main content finally unlocks. It's a slick way to manage large downloads, distributing the load over time.

Conversely, if you picked up the physical copy, you'll be downloading the Call of Duty HQ as part of the preloader timeline, just like everyone else. But the subsequent patches for the campaign and Zombies will need to be downloaded separately, likely after the official release dates. This gives physical buyers a bit more flexibility, perhaps allowing for offline play once the core is installed, before needing to connect for updates.

Looking ahead, the standard test embargo – that period where critics can't share screenshots or detailed reviews – is typically scheduled close to the launch window. While exact times vary by region and publisher, it's standard procedure to embargo coverage until around 1 AM PT / 4 PM CET / 9 AM Beijing Time on the launch day. So, expect the first wave of official previews and critical reviews to coincide with the preloader starting around November 9th.

In summary, Black Ops 7, while substantial, seems to be approaching the installation process with a reasonable balance. The Call of Duty HQ platform is the largest component, but its size is manageable compared to previous generations of Call of Duty install sizes. The modular download structure, separating multiplayer, zombies, and campaign, offers flexibility, particularly for physical buyers. The key takeaway for system preparation is ensuring you have enough space for that 70 GB platform file and keeping an eye on the November 9th start time for the preloader. Hopefully, the content delivered will be worth every byte.